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The Acrididae – Grasshoppers

Acrididae, or grasshoppers, are short-antenna orthopterans generally diurnal, active in sunlight in dry or open areas. Their bodies are robust, their hind legs powerful, and their wings well developed in some species. They produce sound by rubbing their legs against their wings or during flight. Most feed on plants. Their colors range from bright green to cryptic brown, allowing effective camouflage. They are commonly seen leaping at our feet in meadows, fallows, or dunes. They are good ecological indicators and a frequent subject in macro photography.

5 April 2025 · 4 min · 814 words · Damien Théraulaz | Translations:

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Characteristics

Small to large size (10 to 60 mm depending on species)
Sturdy body, often well-developed wings
Hind wings sometimes colored (red, blue, yellow in some species)
Short antennae, generally shorter than the body
Powerful hind legs, adapted for jumping
Stridulation by rubbing hind legs on elytra (in males)

Habitat

Acrididae inhabit:

Meadows, dry grasslands, scrublands, heaths
Cultivated fields, embankments, dunes, roadsides
Warm, sunny, and open areas
Present from spring to autumn depending on species

Biology

Eggs laid in oothecae buried in the soil
Hemimetabolous development, several larval stages
Adults active during the day, often thermophilic
Phytophagous diet, feeding on herbs, grasses, or cultivated plants
Sound production in males (calling song)

Common genera in Europe

Chorthippus – Small brown or green grasshoppers, very common in meadows
Oedipoda – Grasshoppers with colored hind wings (blue, red…), often visible in flight
Calliptamus – Southern species, agile, noisy in flight
Locusta – Genus of migratory grasshoppers, including Locusta migratoria (gregarious species)
Eyprepocnemis, Aiolopus, Gomphocerippus – Other thermophilic or localized genera

Particularities

Some species can become invasive (gregarious phase in Locusta migratoria)
Good colonization capacity, even in artificial environments
Bioindicators of dry, well-exposed grasslands
Often camouflaged in vegetation, but revealed by their sudden flight

Genus Ceracris

Ceracris fasciata


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Ceracris
Species	fasciata
Common name
Identifier	Brunner von Wattenwyl
Year of identification	1893
IUCN category (2001-2003)	Not listed
Color	green – purple – yellow – orange
Male min size
Male max size
Female min size
Female max size
Period start	May
Period end	November
Range	Asia

Genus Chorthippus

Chorthippus brunneus


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Chorthippus
Species	brunneus
Common name	Bow-winged grasshopper
Identifier	Thunberg
Year of identification	1815
IUCN category (2001-2003)	LC (Least Concern)
Color	gray, green, purple-brown or black
Male min size	14
Male max size	18
Female min size	19
Female max size	25
Period start	May
Period end	November
Range	Europe, Asia

Genus Gomphocerus

Gomphocerus sibiricus


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Gomphocerus
Species	sibiricus
Common name	Siberian grasshopper
Identifier	Linnaeus
Year of identification	1767
IUCN category (2001-2003)	)
Color
Male min size
Male max size
Female min size
Female max size
Period start
Period end
Range	Central and Southern Europe

Genus Miramella

Miramella alpina


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Miramella
Species	alpina
Common name	Alpine grasshopper
Identifier	Kollar
Year of identification	1833
IUCN category (2001-2003)	LC (Least Concern)
Color	bright green in both sexes with black stripes
Male min size	16
Male max size	23
Female min size	22
Female max size	30
Period start	June
Period end	September
Range	Europe

Genus Oedipoda

Oedipoda caerulescens


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Oedipoda
Species	caerulescens
Common name	Blue-winged grasshopper
Identifier	Linnaeus
Year of identification	1758
IUCN category (2001-2003)	NT (Near Threatened)
Color	brown-grey / blue wings
Male min size	15
Male max size	21
Female min size	22
Female max size	28
Period start	July
Period end	September
Range	Europe, Asia, North Africa

Oedipoda germanica


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Oedipoda
Species	germanica
Common name	Red-winged grasshopper
Identifier	Latreille
Year of identification	1804
IUCN category (2001-2003)	VU (Vulnerable)
Color	light to dark brown / red wings
Male min size	15
Male max size	22
Female min size	22
Female max size	30
Period start	July
Period end	November
Range	Europe

Genus Podisma

Podisma pedestris


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Podisma
Species	pedestris
Common name	Moraine grasshopper
Identifier	Linnaeus
Year of identification	1758
IUCN category (2001-2003)	LC (Least Concern)
Color	yellow-gray to orange-brown
Male min size	17
Male max size	25
Female min size	24
Female max size	30
Period start	June
Period end	October
Range	Europe

Genus Pseudochorthippus

Pseudochorthippus parallelus


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Pseudochorthippus
Species	parallelus
Common name	Meadow grasshopper
Identifier	Zetterstedt
Year of identification	1821
IUCN category (2001-2003)	LC (Least Concern)
Color	green-brown-purple
Male min size	15
Male max size	15
Female min size	20
Female max size	20
Period start	June
Period end	November
Range	Europe, Asia

Genus Trilophidia

Trilophidia annulata


Order	Orthoptera
Family Orthoptera	Acrididae
Genus	Trilophidia
Species	annulata
Common name
Identifier	Thunberg
Year of identification	1815
IUCN category (2001-2003)	Not listed
Color	dark brown
Male min size	13
Male max size	18
Female min size	13
Female max size	18
Period start
Period end
Range	Asia